FI15804

Request

I would like to request information relating to unaccredited online schools. For the purposes of this request, “unaccredited online schools” refers to online education providers that offer full-time education to pupils of compulsory school age which have NOT been accredited under the Department for Education’s Online Education Accreditation Scheme (see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-online-education-accreditation).

For your information, I am aware that the Online Education Accreditation Scheme was only launched in the 2022/2023 academic year so all online school providers prior to 2022/2023 will have been unaccredited. Please provide the following information:

1. The total number of children the council has funded to attend unaccredited online schools in each of the past eight academic years (2017/2018 through to 2024/2025 inclusive). Within each academic year, please break down the total by:

a. Sex, i.e. how many of these children are male and how many are female.

b. Age or ‘Key Stage’ year.

c. Ethnicity.

d. The proportion of these children that qualify/qualified for free school meals (but not including infant free school meals).

e. The proportion of these children that have/had special educational needs.

2. The total amount the council has spent on this attendance at unaccredited online schools in each of the past eight academic years (2017/2018 through to 2024/2025 inclusive).

3. The mean cost per placement in an unaccredited online school in each of the past eight academic years (2017/2018 through to 2024/2025 inclusive).

4. The median cost per placement in an unaccredited online school in each of the past eight academic years (2017/2018 through to 2024/2025 inclusive).

5. The names of the unaccredited online school providers, or the top five most used unaccredited online school providers in each of the past eight academic years (2017/2018 through to 2024/2025 inclusive).

Response

Dover District Council does not hold the information you are seeking. The education authority within our District is Kent County Council, who should be able to assist you and can be contacted at the following address: freedomofinformation@kent.gov.uk.